GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Colorado Mesa is set to wrap up nonconference play, ironically playing a conference opponent in a non-RMAC game on another RMAC team's home court.
The Mavericks, 5-0, will attempt to match and surpass their 6-0 start to the 2021-22 season, but will be tested by Fort Hays State (Kan.) University and Colorado Christian at neutral sites in the Denver area.
The Tigers (2-0) face CMU at 2 p.m. Sunday at the CCU Events Center in Lakewood. At noon Monday, the Mavericks play Colorado Christian (1-1) on the campus of MSU Denver at the Auraria Event Center — Fort Hays will play the Roadrunners in the second half of the women's doubleheader on Monday.
Through their first five games, the Mavericks have started to develop their identity, one of a tough, gritty team that can counter gimmick defenses with inside and outside scoring options. The depth is starting to develop, although seven players are seeing the majority of minutes, with an eighth, Lauryn Deede, playing a big role last week off the bench. The Mavs' reserves have outscored their bench counterparts 143-49.
ABOUT LAST WEEK
The Mavericks continued their impressive start with a pair of crucial in-region victories against West Texas A&M and Texas Permian Basin in the D2 Conference Challenge at Brownson Arena.
In those two games, CMU showed it can adapt to different styles, first showing their grit against a bigger lineup by running their sets and outrebounding the Buffs by 10, then breaking Permian Basin's 1-3-1 zone by hitting a dozen 3-pointers one night after going 4-17 from beyond the arc.
Several breakout performances have helped CMU's start, most notably freshman guard Mason Rowland, the Mavs' second-leading scorer (17.4 ppg) despite coming off the bench in every game. Coach Taylor Wagner likes having a high-energy player in that sixth-player role, and Rowland has certainly provided that on both ends of the floor. She's adding 4.6 rebounds a game, has six steals and eight assists so far, primarily playing a wing spot, but can also run the point.
Forward Josee Steadman has shown similar spark off the bench and leads the Mavs with a dozen 3-pointers made in 24 attempts, and is averaging nine points a game.
Sophie Hadad, who missed all of last season and parts of the two previous years with injuries, played perhaps her best game as a Maverick against Permian Basin, making two crucial 3-pointers, and newcomer Claire Heitschmidt made three treys against the Falcons to help loosen up the zone defense.
POWx2
Olivia Reed, who is averaging a double-double through the first five games, doubled up on awards this week. First, she was selected as the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week, and then was voted the D2 Conference Information Directors Association's national Player of the Week. The sophomore forward grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds against Permian Basin, and has also eclipsed her previous career night scoring with a 30-point night against Alaska Fairbanks. She's averaging 19.4 points and 14.6 rebounds a game and is shooting 62.1% from the field.
Reed, the RMAC Freshman of the Year last season, was the defensive POW three times as a freshman.
CONFERENCE CROSSOVERS
All but two RMAC teams played in crossover tournaments against the Lone Star Conference last weekend.
In the 26 games, the RMAC went 11-15, with Colorado Mesa, Regis, Colorado School of Mines and Adams State all going 2-0. CU-Colorado Springs, CSU Pueblo and Colorado Christian came away with splits, with South Dakota Mines, MSU Denver, Western Colorado, Westminster, Fort Lewis and New Mexico Highlands starting out 0-2.
Chadron State and Black Hills State did not play in crossover events, but the Eagles did pick up one regional game, losing to Texas A&M International.
EARLY STANDINGS
The early start to the season has Colorado Mesa, at 5-0, atop the RMAC standings and one of four undefeated teams (Regis 2-0, Colorado School of Mines 2-0, Black Hills State 1-0).
RANKINGS
The WBCA coaches preseason poll was released on Oct. 31. No RMAC teams made the top 25, with Regis receiving votes. The regular-season polls are expected to begin next week and are released on Tuesdays.
However, the Mavericks' 5-0 start has them receiving votes in the first D2CSC (College Sports Communicators) poll, released Tuesday. Colorado Mesa garnered 17 votes, which would rank 28th nationally. Regis is No. 15 in the CSC poll.
ABOUT THE TIGERS
Colorado Mesa lost to Fort Hays State by 35 points a year ago in Hays, Kan., and is 12-15 all-time against the Tigers. The former RMAC rivals had not played since the 2005-06 season, after which Fort Hays joined the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. CMU's last win in the series came in January of 2005, a 70-62 victory in Hays.
The post players will once again have to contend with taller opponents, this time 6-foot-3 junior forward Olivia Hollenbeck. She's scoring 8.5 points a game and has blocked three shots in the opening two games. Katie Wagner, a 5-11 junior guard, leads Fort Hays with a 21-point scoring average.
The Tigers are coming off a huge 83-67 win over preseason No. 2 Minnesota State Mankato in the Central Region Showcase last week.
ABOUT THE COUGARS
Colorado Christian started 1-1 in its crossover weekend, falling to perennial Lone Star power Lubbock Christian, but coming back for an impressive win over the University of Texas at Tyler, ranked seventh in the WBCA preseason poll.
Maggie Hutka, a 6-1 sophomore forward, averages 17 points and 8.5 rebounds a game for the Cougars, with Nicole Bowlin, a 5-6 sophomore point guard, adding 11 points a game. CCU will put up its share of 3-point shots, going 22 of 62 in the first two games of the season, including hitting 13 of 34 in the win over Tyler.
Colorado Mesa is 29-9 all-time against CCU, including a dominant 52-29 win last January in Lakewood.
FORMER MAV MILESTONE
Colorado School of Mines coach Brittany (Rowley) Simpson, who played at CMU from 2002-06, won her 200th game as the Orediggers' head coach last weekend. Simpson just began her 12th season as Mines' head coach.
TIME FOR A BREAK
By getting a jump-start on the season in Canada and not hosting a Thanksgiving tournament this season, the Mavericks will go 10 days between games after Monday's contest. Conference play begins Dec. 1, with CMU traveling back to the Front Range to play at Colorado School of Mines and MSU Denver. The RMAC home opener is Dec. 8 against CU-Colorado Springs.
COACH'S CORNER
Head coach Taylor Wagner, in his 12th season, needs one win to reach 250 in his time with the Mavericks. He enters Sunday's game 249-77 (.760), and has a 186-54 conference record, which includes five regular-season and four RMAC Tournament titles and five RMAC Coach of the Year awards. He took the Mavericks to the NCAA Elite Eight in his first season, 2012-13, finishing 31-2, and under his leadership, CMU has played in the NCAA Tournament six times. Assistant coach Hannah Pollart played on one of those NCAA Tournament teams, which reached the Sweet 16 in 2013-14.
